Redmond bigwigs observe that current search offerings are severely lacking. Do …

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Two articles caught my attention over the weekend. Both involved Microsoft bigwigs, both involved their views on search technology, and both involved basically saying current search technology isn't much better than cave drawings.

"I think we'll look back on this as the DOS era of search," said Christopher Payne, a corporate vice president in charge of Windows Live Search, referencing the very early days of the computer operating system.

In the same article, Steve Ballmer expresses regret at taking so long to get with the program on search, but touts Microsoft's progress over the last couple of years and the great things to come.

It seems to me that the message from Microsoft to Google (and Yahoo?) is clear: you may be the current champs, but you've conquered a worthless molehill while we're going after the mountain that really counts. Microsoft either has some real good tricks up its sleeves, or else is running on some awesome bravado; they have been talking a lot of smack in the search wars lately.